Obama gives Ukraine backing

STANDOFF HARDENS:After meeting the acting Ukrainian prime minister, Obama said he considers the Russian incursion into Crimea a violation of international law

AFP, WASHINGTON

Putin’s diplomatic isolation intensified when the G7 industrialized nations urged Russia “to cease all efforts to change the status of Crimea contrary to Ukrainian law and in violation of international law.”

EU foreign ministers are to discuss punitive measures against senior Russian officials at a meeting on Monday.

European leaders then plan to meet at a summit on Thursday and Friday next week to witness the signing of what German Chancellor Angela Merkel said would be an historic EU-Ukraine association agreement.

Yatsenyuk confirmed in Washington that Ukraine hopes to sign the deal soon, perhaps as early as next week.